Holder for boiling hams.



PATENTBD MAY 10, 1904. H. A. KURLFINKE- HOLDER FOR BOILING HAMS.APPLIOATION FILED AUG. I'I 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Witawss es fi a UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HOLDER FOR BOILING HAMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 759,451, dated May 10,1904.

Application filed August 17, 1903. 1 Serial No. 169,724. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, HENRYA. KURLEINKE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of 'San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Holders forBoiling Hams, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device which is designed for holding hamsduring theprocess of boiling.

It consists of a foraminous cylinder the meeting edges of which are freeto move upon each other and within which cylinder the prepared ham isplaced, a mechanism by which the cylinder may be contracted, so as tocompress the ham within it, and means for retaining the cylinder in itscontracted position during the boiling of the ham.

It also consists in details of construction, which will be more fullyexplained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1shows a means for applying my device. Fig. 2 is a detail of the device.Fig. 3 is a perspective of the binder.

For the purpose of boiling hams it is customary to first remove the bonefrom the ham, and the ham is then strongly bound to gether andcompressed by cords wound around it or by canvas or other envelop drawnas tightly as possible, so as to hold it in position while being boiled.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved apparatus foreasily binding and compressing the ham and retaining it in positionwhile being boiled and also to retain the juices of the ham and preventits being unduly dried during the process.

As herein illustrated, A is a container, which in the present case ismade of sheet metal, cylindrical in form, having the overlapping edges 2and 3 unjoined and free to slide over each other, so that the cylindermay be compressed and its diameter reduced. This cylinder is preferablyperforated with holes a or made foraminous, as shown, and the ham whenprepared for boiling is placed within a cylinder.

5 is a device formed of flexible wire adapted to inclose the cylinderand having an extension, as at 6. This device may be made in anysuitable manner. As herein shown, it is double, so that the two parts 6pass through the bight 7 of the part which surrounds the cylinder, andthe end 8 of the part 6 may be attached to any suitable means by whichit can be held stationary, such as a stout pin or bolt or other support,as at 9. I have here shown such a support fixed upon a bench or table 10and so adjusted that the part 6 will be approximately on a level withthe top of the cylinder A.

In order to compress the cylinder and cause the edges 2 and 3 to slideover each other until the ham which has been placed within the cylinderis sufficiently compressed, I have showna cord or similar connection 11,one end of which is fastened to the bight 7 of the inclosing device 5,and the other end of the cord is coiled upon a drum 12, mounted upon asuitably-journaled shaft 13.

1 1 is a ratchet-wheel fixed upon the drumshaft 13, and it is operatedby a pawl 15, fixed to a fulcrum-lever 16 and having its end engagingthe teeth of the ratchet, so that by moving the lever 16 forward thepawl acts to turn the ratchet and wind up the cord 11.

17 is a holding-pawl fulerumed to the table or other convenient supportand engaging the teeth of the ratchet to prevent its turning backwardwhen the lever 16 and pawl 15 are moved for a new advance of theratchet. By this or equivalent mechanism the drum 12 may be turned andthe cord 11 Wound upon it, thus pulling upon the loop 7 of the elasticinclosing wires 5, while the port 6 is held stationary by its attachmentat 9. This action closes the cylinder by sliding the edges 2 and 3 overeach other until the ham has been sufiiciently compressed within thecylinder. The perforations in the cylinder allow the fat outer portionof the ham to protrude through these perforations, and thus hold itfirmly in place, while exposing a great portion of its surface to thedirect action of the liquid in which it is being boiled. This structureI have found also prevents the juices of the ham being lost and the hamrendered hard, as the contact of the water with the outside of the hamwill seal its surface. When the cylinder has thus been drawn togethersufficiently, it is secured by means of bent wires 18, having hooks atthe ends adapted to enter holes in the cylinder, and thus retain it atany desired degree of compression. When the ham has been cooked, thehooks maybe removed, the cylinder allowed to expand, and the ham removedin condition to be carved for use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A device for holding meat during the cooking operation said devicecomprising a split jacket of substantially cylindrical form and composedof perforated metal, and having its meeting edges adapted to overlap,and locking-wires having bent ends to engage the perthe sheet andretaining the sheet at any de-- sired degree of compression.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. KURLFINKE. Witnesses:

HENRY P. TRICOU, S. H. N OURSE.

